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Original poster

Are patients not washed any more in hospital?

814 replies

Shortkiwi · 14/01/2023 23:08

I am a nurse of over 40yrs plus. My 93 yr old father has been in hospital for a week. We have visited every day and had to wash and shave him in the afternoon or evening because it hasn’t been done. When I asked if he could be showered one evening, for the next day, I think they showered him but without using soap or shampoo, basically hosed him down from what he reported. His hair was definitely not washed. His teeth have not been cleaned without us doing them. Shaving is definitely not on the agenda. When I was a young nurse it was a given that patients were bathed each day, either in the bathroom or in bed. Teeth/dentures were cleaned and male patients shaved. We were admonished if these things weren’t done. Dad’s ward was very quiet today with several nurses chatting at the nurses station. They were very happy to get us any personal items we didn’t have. I just think if it wasn’t for us he wouldn’t be clean. He actually said, through his dementia, how much better he felt today after we showered him and washed his hair and said it would last him for a while! Which it won’t of course!
We had a list, in the old days, in terms of total patient care, in which we had to tick off items of personal hygiene for every patient in both our theory and practice. I’m sad for those that might not have relatives to attend to personal hygiene these days. It has never been discussed that we would do it, it’s just not been done. Basically, we have had to take the initiative. Years ago there were charts and care plans at the end of the bed, now it’s all computerised. I can excuse the 3 days of hell in A&E but not these last 4 days on the ward. My Dad is not mobile unless he has a lot of help and he is confused.

OP posts:
Honeyroar · 14/01/2023 23:12

I found the same with my dad.

broomtomb · 14/01/2023 23:16

My dad was in hospital for 2 months last year following a stroke, not showered or hair washed once.

It was horrific.

He was barely cared for at all.

NothingButSpace · 14/01/2023 23:17

That is really upsetting to hear.

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Natty13 · 14/01/2023 23:18

If you're a practicing nurse then you know things have changed in 40 years. Even in thr last 5-10 we have gone from "busy" to "so short staffed we can't deliver basic care". There just arent enough nurses to do thr very basics. Why do you think there are strikes?

I'm so sorry about your dad though. I was in this situation although it was abroad and just torture leaving my parent every day knowing nobody would tend to them at all. I hope he can get out soon x

Xrays · 14/01/2023 23:19

It was the same when my Mum had terminal bowel cancer in 2019. She was on the phone begging me to come in and wash her hair because she hadn’t had it done in over a week. I had to come in and do it in the showers for her. I think sadly personal care has just fallen off a cliff.

NeedWineNow · 14/01/2023 23:19

This isn't new I'm afraid. It was the same when my dad was in hospital and that was before I was married so at least 27 years ago.

dingit · 14/01/2023 23:21

My mum was admitted with gastroenteritis and all that entails. She was on a drip and catheter so I couldn't do it, I asked them to, they looked at me like I'd asked for the moon 😡

ForestLilac · 14/01/2023 23:25

I’m an HCA. If you’ve got a shit lazy member of staff then it won’t get done and no one will say anything.

If the patient has capacity then we ask them what they want - wash with us helping, or by themselves, same with shower, or nothing.

If no capacity and immobile then we do a bed bath. But we are under a huge pressure timewise. I’ll be honest, hair washing and brushing and cleaning false teeth etc are not the priority. If we have time we do them. If it’s a choice between feeding patients, taking them to theatre/X-ray etc OR washing their hair, then the hair will have to wait. But it’ll be on our mind that it needs doing, so hopefully would be done the next day.

Original poster
Shortkiwi · 14/01/2023 23:26

@Natty13 There were plenty of nurses today, sitting within metres of us for 2 hours, chatting for the whole time, not on computers. I am still a practicing nurse within the community. I wasn’t going to kick off, I politely asked them for extra towels, pads etc. They knew exactly what we were doing and turned the shower on whilst we got him there on a Zimmer frame. This ward was not busy, surprisingly. A&E was hell earlier this week and I wouldn’t have expected those nurses to wash, shave etc in the 3 days he was there. Total patient care was drilled into us - washing patients, oral hygiene, pressure area care etc. It definitely isn’t now.

OP posts:
PoIIyPandemonium · 14/01/2023 23:29

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

CleopatrasBeautifulNose · 14/01/2023 23:31

I was hospitalised in 1999 on the hottest day of the year after being run over, I was covered in grit, filth and sweat and to cap it off was on my period. After my emergency op I vomited. 3 days later I was still covered in all the same filth listed above and my mum washed me. Though couldn't do my hair as I was bed bound. Awful. So not a new problem to me, at least not on that ward.
Not nice at all.

ForestLilac · 14/01/2023 23:32

Shortkiwi · 14/01/2023 23:26

@Natty13 There were plenty of nurses today, sitting within metres of us for 2 hours, chatting for the whole time, not on computers. I am still a practicing nurse within the community. I wasn’t going to kick off, I politely asked them for extra towels, pads etc. They knew exactly what we were doing and turned the shower on whilst we got him there on a Zimmer frame. This ward was not busy, surprisingly. A&E was hell earlier this week and I wouldn’t have expected those nurses to wash, shave etc in the 3 days he was there. Total patient care was drilled into us - washing patients, oral hygiene, pressure area care etc. It definitely isn’t now.

Regarding A&E being busy, at our hospital A&E can be rammed when we have half the ward empty. This can be due to the wrong ‘type’ of patient and often not wanting to mix inpatients and electives together. As you know, this is a management decision and nothing to do with the ward staff unfortunately.

Did the nurses say why your father wasn’t washed etc?

Looblou72 · 14/01/2023 23:33

My grandma was in hospital for 4 weeks in 2007 with terminal cancer and wasn’t washed or bathed once. We had to strip wash her in the bathroom so she didn’t smell before her brother visited (he lived a few hours drive away and we all knew it would be the last time he saw her). That was 15 years ago so nothings changed…. No covid or staffing shortages then so what’s the excuse for the appalling lack of care? Also if family hadn’t been with her around the clock taking turns she wouldn’t have had drinks of water or anything…. My faith in the NHS and respect for doctors and nurses totally lost after my experiences then.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 14/01/2023 23:35

It seems to be case in the UK but not in Ireland - elderly relatives there have been washed, changed and fed.

YogaLite · 14/01/2023 23:35

I hope someone in the media raises this point. It's so sad when u realise not everyone will have family coming to look after their family members in hospital.

But of course our MPs are bound to have private care so for them personally it doesn't matter.

ozymandiusking · 14/01/2023 23:37

The standard of nursing today compared to the 1960s is an absolute disgrace. They walk about as thought they havent got a rush in them or a care in the world.
Patients should be washed every day and their teeth cleaned.
A little more time on the wards (bays) and less time clustered around these stations wouldn't go amiss.

Twilight7777 · 14/01/2023 23:37

A family member had a stroke and was left without any washing unless she could do it herself, ended up having to have most of her hair cut off because it was so matted. Not one person thought about helping her brush her hair, she couldn’t do it unaided to begin with. Her hair was always her pride and joy.

EcoCustard · 14/01/2023 23:37

Not surprised. DH broke both ankles, fractured pelvis, & skull in 2007 and I had to wash him in bed as had not been plastered. He wasn’t in a local hospital he was 105 miles away (had been working away and fell off a roof) and I had to drive over daily for a week until his discharge after several surgeries to a local trust. Also had to request pain relief as unless pestered it was never administered.

debbiewest0 · 14/01/2023 23:38

When my adult daughter was in, she was rarely helped to wash and clean. I would get there in the afternoon and find her in dirty underwear and not washed so I would end up doing it. And the bedding would have dirt, food or blood on and not be changed daily unless I insisted or helped. Surely clean areas and bodies help stop infections worsen or spread. I found all the care lacking and often helped others on the ward that had been left struggling. Eg. Unable to reach their glasses or cup of tea or lunch.

HumourReplacementTherapy · 14/01/2023 23:40

At least rishy and his family will be ok though.
How fucking degrading and disgraceful Sad

Original poster
Shortkiwi · 14/01/2023 23:40

Nurses/HCAs have only done observations whilst we have been there and we have been there for 4 hours each pm. Catering staff have given out meals and drinks. I had to ask if his cannula could be removed today - don’t think anyone had thought about that and it hasn’t been used in a week. There’s a nice student nurse on her second day on the ward today. I’m going to kindly quiz her about her training tomorrow!

OP posts:
JaniceBattersby · 14/01/2023 23:43

YogaLite · 14/01/2023 23:35

I hope someone in the media raises this point. It's so sad when u realise not everyone will have family coming to look after their family members in hospital.

But of course our MPs are bound to have private care so for them personally it doesn't matter.

This sounds like it is definitely a good issue for the media to tackle, but just a friendly reminder that if you want something reported by the media you do need to specifically tell a journalist, with examples if possible. We can’t do these stories without people telling them to us because we don’t know what we don’t know!

PieonaBarm · 14/01/2023 23:45

I was on a ward for ten days with a 90 year old lady and she was offered a shower/bed bath everyday, usually when they changed the beds. Most days she just couldn't be bothered and refused, but they did offer. Maybe your Dad just doesnt feel like it when they offer or would rather someone he knows does it?

Newyear2023 · 14/01/2023 23:46

Nurse here. I work on an acute medical ward with anything between 8 and 15 acutely unwell patients. And I mean unwell. My average day includes patients withdrawing from alcohol and drugs, patients with dementia trying to harm themselves or others, patients suffering from mental health hallucinations. Patients can score so highly on their obs that it scares me and I'm an experienced acute medicine work. I would LOVE to be able to properly wash and shave my patients and do all the hygiene care that I once loved but these days my 14 hour shifts are taken up with trying to keep people safe and alive. It makes me sad every day.

Greengables4 · 14/01/2023 23:47

I work in a care home, residents are given a daily strip wash and are supposed to be shaved daily if male, all residents to be showered once per week. Ideally it would be every couple of days but they don't have the staff, though I agree it's not right.

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